It is the first time that former first class cricketers have been named as selectors because we firmly believe they have an ample experience to identify talent at the grassroots level, he added.

The PCB official said that former Test fast bowler Saleem Jaffar and opening batsman Shoaib Mohammad had been retained in the senior national selection committee.

Saleem was the chief selector in the interim selection committee while Shoaib son of former Test captain Hanif Mohammad and Ijaz Ahmed are the other members.

Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir was named the new chief selector on Thursday. Ijaz has been dropped after Qadirs inclusion, but he is expected to take over as fielding coach, either with the Pakistan team or at the National Cricket Academy. (ANI)